Willow saw Riley laying in her bed, the sheet pushed down around his abdomen. She let her attention stay on his fantastic chest and flat stomach before she suddenly realized he was laying naked in her bed. She suddenly remembered the night before as hazy visions came to her mind. She gasped, pulling the sheet around her as she jumped from her bed. She had lost her virginity to her best friend's boyfriend. Not only that, but she had been drunk at the time. She began to pace, her breathing ragged as she began to talk to herself. "Bad Willow...my god...Buffy's gone a month and you attack her man...what were you thinking? Alcohol is bad...what to do...what to do..."
Riley opened his eyes when he felt the bed shirt and the comforting warmth move from his body. He sat up, groaning as a pain went through his head. He ran a hand through his thick hair, realizing that this was not his dorm room. He suddenly heard a noise and looked up into frightened green eyes. Willow. He closed his eyes as the events of the night before came to him. He couldn't believe he had seduced his friend. Taken her virginity as he took advantage of her. Remembering her body and the way her face had looked when she had cum, he felt himself harden even as he directed disgusted thoughts at himself. "Willow."
Willow gulped as she heard his soft voice. She held on to the sheet tightly, not wanting to let it go. "You know what we did...."
Riley nodded, looking up and grimacing at the guilty look in her eyes. "Yeah...I was drunk but not drunk enough to forget."
"I want to forget" Willow said softly, tears in her eyes. She saw him look at her, guilt crossing his face. God, she'd never forget. She had stupidly fallen in love with him over the last few months. Now, they would not even have their friendship. There was no way they could forget what had happened, no matter how badly each might want to. She could still vividly remember his hands on her...his mouth as he tasted her...
"You can't" Riley said, a bit sharply. The best night of his life, even intoxicated, and she wanted to forget it. He felt even worse.
"What are we going to tell Buffy?" Willow asked, her chin quivering. She and the slayer had been through a lot together, but never anything as terrible as boyfriend bed hopping. Buffy would kill her then ignore her. She'd lost everyone.
"Damn" Riley cursed softly, looking away from her teary green eyes. "Buffy. I forgot Buffy."
"Forgot Buffy?" Willow said, her tone annoyed. "She's only been gone a month, Riley. It wasn't even me, was it?"
He glanced at her confused, "What?"
"This" she sniffled, gesturing with one hand to the bed and then herself. "I was just a random girl wasn't I? You were horny and I was the lucky breathing female around at the time."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Riley demanded. "You could never be random Willow. Not even if you tried."
"You just don't want me mad" Willow said, hurt in her eyes.
"I rather think this has been happening for a few months" Riley said softly. He saw her eyes widen and smiled slightly, "This attraction between us. Lust, friendship...whatever you want to call it. You've been in my thoughts a long time before last night."
"You've had Buffy" she said quietly, her eyes disbelieving.
Riley snorted, "I never had Buffy. Angel had Buffy...and then Rafe had Buffy. But, she never really belonged to me. I was merely a pause in her life, or so she said before she left."
"What?" she asked, moving to sit down and take his hand. She saw the weariness in his eyes and wanted to know what had hurt him.
Riley took her hand, smiling slightly at the way it looked in his. It fit perfectly. Shaking his head, he elaborated. "Buffy and I agreed to spend the summer apart...going our seperate ways so to speak. When she comes back in August, we're suppose to evaluate our relationship and decide where to go next."
"She wanted to be free to date Rafe when she was back in LA didn't she?" Willow said, a bit irritated that Buffy would be so frivolous with Riley's feelings.
Riley nodded, looking at Willow, his expression tender. "Willow, it wasn't a surprise. Buffy and I were good to start with, but there is a lot of history between us already. I also think she realized we weren't really in love. I've had a month to think about it myself. I love her, and I don't regret dating her or any of that. She will always be a dear friend, but I'm not in love with her. I didn't realize what she meant when she left, but I do now."
Willow couldn't move her eyes away from his. "About what?"
Riley chuckled, "She told me when I dropped her at the airport to open my eyes and see what I was missing. She said that sometimes love sneaks up on you and it takes awhile to realize it. I assumed she was talking about Rafe but I think she always knew what I tried to fight...."
"What's that?" Willow asked, staring into his eyes.
"That my heart didn't belong to her because I was in love with you" he said simply.
Her eyes widened. "No...you're just saying that. We've only been friends. You just don't want to worry about Buffy and how she'll handle this so you're lying...."
Riley looked at her surprised. He had never quite imagined his declaration of love being met by denial. He was actually rather ashamed of himself. Buffy had realized his real feelings for her friend before he did....actually giving her consent for the two to have a relationship. And now, Willow was calling him a liar. "I don't lie about things like this Willow."
Willow heard the soft warning to his words and let out a breath. She'd love to believe him, but she'd been around enough to know that men always said they loved you after sex. Right before going to sleep usually. She frowned, wondering if it could be true. She knew Riley and he was probably one of the most honest people she'd ever known. She knew he would never do anything to hurt her. So, why lie now about loving her? But, why would he want her if he had Buffy? Men always preferred Buffy. "I don't think you're lying intentionally, Riley. I think you're lying to yourself to justify what we did so you don't feel guilty anymore. I doubt if we hadn't gotten drunk and things hadn't gotten carried away that we'd ever be having this conversation anyway. I mean...why on earth would you love me when you coul...."
Willow's babbling words were caught by Riley's lips. She whimpered, moving closer to him as desire spread over her body. She felt him push her to the bed, his hard body covering hers. She felt him pull back and looked into his eyes, shocked when she truly saw love burning in their depths. He really did love her. She felt his lips brush against her cheek as he whispered, "Too much talking. I love you Willow Anne Rosenberg. It may take me all summer to convince you, but you will admit it before I get through...."
Willow felt pleasure rush through her at his words. He did love her. She felt the sheet drawn away as his moved down her body with his mouth and hands. She gasped when he touched the wet area between her thighs. She felt a familiar tension spread over her as she though, not again, before giving in to the lust and the love she felt for Riley Finn.
THE END
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